By Darron Thomas
This season in South AA girl’s basketball most of the attention has been directed towards the Brookhaven Lady Cougars, but if you take the drive south of Brookhaven there is another team just off I-55 that could very well stake a claim at the South State Tournament next week in Gallman. The Oak Forest Lady Jackets, who have been idle for a week after finishing up their regular season with a home win over Parklane back on January 31st, know all to well what it will take to win.
This year’s team is made up of seasoned seniors who gained valuable experience in tournament play in 2008. Oak Forest entered last year’s state tournament in Grenada as a #3 seed and had wins over Indianola and Brookhaven to advance to the title game against Leake. While the Lady Jackets fell to Leake there’s no question that this Oak Forest team is stronger than last season’s squad. Oak Forest finished another successful campaign in district 5AA play with a perfect 10-0 mark and an overall record of 27-3 under the direction of head coach Jody Fekete. Not unlike Brookhaven the Lady Jackets have been on a roll having won 15 of their last 16 games. That loss was a two point defeat in the championship game at the Brookhaven Christmas Tournament against the Lady Cougars.
The 2009 version of Oak Forest girl’s basketball is one of quick starts, deadly perimeter shooting, and energy. As with most great teams the Lady Jackets play with an intensity that is seldom matched by their opponent. They are exceptional at running the floor or executing a half court game with crisp passing and deadly 3-point shooting. If you’re an opponent putting together strategy you can pick your poison……do you stop Cassie Bennett, Brittani Roy, Lindsey Oliver, or Lauren Brumfield from raining down three’s all night. At a January 8th game in Amite I saw Oak Forest put up eight three’s between Oliver, Roy, and Brumfield. Cassie Bennett, who is one of the purest shooters anywhere, finished the night with 10 points. Sophomore center Ashlyn Neal has done a solid job and brings a hard nose brand of basketball to the squad.
Last night I commented that Brookhaven has a slight edge heading into south state. That edge is ever so slight as I have Oak Forest breathing down the Lady Cougar’s necks. That senior experience could prove to be invaluable for Oak Forest over the next three weeks and, if they bring that patented three point shooting, look for the Lady Jackets to make their fans very happy.
Oak Forest begins district 5AA tournament play Friday, Feb 6th at 7:00pm against ASC, and will be heavily favored to finish the weekend as tournament champions.
Tomorrow night......the Prairie View Lady Spartans
See ya in Mendenhall!
